Silke Gebel MdL (Alliance 90/TheGreens) Berlin House of Representatives
Silke Gebel has led the Green Party’s parliamentary group in the Berlin House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) since 2016. Ms. Gebel took her first steps into politics with the Young European Federalists in 2001 in her hometown of Koblenz. Until 2006, she served in several roles there, including deputy chairwoman on the federal level. A member of Alliance 90/The Greens since 2003, Ms. Gebel was initially active in the party’s youth organization, eventually taking the role of Federal General Secretary. Between 2008 and 2009, She also served as spokesperson for the National Committee for International Youth Policy. After moving to Berlin, she served on the party board in the district of Mitte between 2011 and 2013. In January 2013, she became a Member of Parliament in Berlin’s state diet, the Abgeordnetenhaus. In parliament, Ms. Gebel was the parliamentary group’s spokesperson for environmental issues, as well as serving on the committee on city planning and an inquiry commission on New Energy. Following the Berlin state elections in 2016, Ms. Gebel was elected as one of two equal chairwomen of the Green Party group in parliament, a position she held until 2023. Since 2020, she also chairs the parliamentary group of the Europa Union Berlin, promoting European unity.
Delegate Josh Holstein (R) West Virginia House of Delegates
Josh Holstein serves as Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party and as an elected member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Raised in Boone County in southern West Virginia, he comes from a family with deep roots in the coal industry. He was elected to the legislature in 2020 at just 19 years old, making him one of the youngest state lawmakers in the country. He currently serves on committees focused on legal issues, energy policy, infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Mr. Holstein graduated from Sherman High School and earned a degree in economics from Marshall University. His background shapes his focus on economic growth, energy development, and strengthening rural communities. Outside of public service, he is a bluegrass and gospel musician. He became involved in politics as a teenager and has held leadership roles at both the county and state level. In 2025, he was elected Chairman of the State Party.
Jessica Steiner MdL (CDU) State Parliament of Saxony
Jessica Steiner serves as a member of the Saxon State Parliament, dedicated to advancing healthcare reform, social welfare, and policies supporting workers’ rights. Her legislative focus reflects her commitment to creating robust support systems for individuals and families, especially those caring for vulnerable members of society. She began her career as an intensive care nurse, training at the Carl-von-Basedow-Klinikum in Merseburg and working for several years at the Heart Centre Leipzig, specializing in cardiology. Ms. Steiner also spent six months at Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, gaining an international perspective on healthcare practices. Back in Leipzig, she led a project to implement a national nursing standard in cardiology care. In 2018, family obligations led her to pause her medical studies at the University of Leipzig to care for her grandmother, who suffered from dementia. This experience reinforced her belief in the importance of accessible social care frameworks and inspired her policy focus on family support and eldercare. In 2021, Ms. Steiner ran as a Bundestag candidate, and her dedication to social policies earned her a position on the CDU federal executive board and the Christian Democratic Workers’ Association (CDA) board in 2022. She advocates for policies that prioritize the working class, guided by Christian Social Teaching. Ms. Steiner’s journey from intensive care nursing to legislative office underscores her commitment to public service and social cohesion, a mission she continues to champion as a parliamentarian.
Delegate Lily Qi (D) Maryland House of Delegates
Lily Qi is a Maryland state delegate representing Montgomery County, a suburb of Washington, D.C. She is the author of Elected American: From Red China to Blue Maryland, her 2026 memoir about immigrant participation in American democracy. As the first American state legislator to have grown up in the People’s Republic of China, she was featured in The Washington Post, NPR, Voice of America, and Radio Free Asia, which turned her story into a graphic novel. Ms. Qi is a leading voice in Annapolis for economic competitiveness and open primary elections. She was named “Legislator of the Year” three times for championing the innovation economy and small businesses. Her legislation has led to a designated state green bank for clean energy innovation, millions of dollars in matching grants for industries of the future, Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, and the Governor’s LGBTQ+ Commission. Before elective office, Ms. Qi had a diverse career in economic development, public engagement, and local government, including as a political appointee of former County Executive Ike Leggett. She has served on numerous boards and commissions. A cultural broker, Ms. Qi speaks on immigrant integration, business climate, civic and political engagement, and the Asian American experience.
